“What we have here is a war—the war of matter and spirit. In the classical era, spirit was in harmony with matter. Matter used to condense spirit. What was unseen—the ghost of Hamlet’s father—was seen—in the conscience of the king. The spirit was trapped in the matter of theater. The theater made the unseen, seen. In the Romantic era, spirit overwhelms matter. The glass of champagne can’t contain the bubbles. But never in the history of humanity has spirit been at war with matter. And that is what we have today. The war of banks and religion. It’s what I wrote in Prayers of the Dawn, that in New York City, banks tower over cathedrals. Banks are the temples of America. This is a holy war. Our economy is our religion. When I came back to midtown a week after the attack—I mourned—but not in a personal way—it was a cosmic mourning—something that I could not specify because I didn’t know any of the dead. I felt grief without knowing its origin. Maybe it was the grief of being an immigrant and of not having roots. Not being able to participate in the whole affair as a family member but as a foreigner, as a stranger—estranged in myself and confused—I saw the windows of Bergdorf and Saks—what a theater of the unexpected—my mother would have cried—there were only black curtains, black drapes—showing the mourning of the stores—no mannequins, just veils—black veils. When the mannequins appeared again weeks later—none of them had blond hair. I don’t know if it was because of the mourning rituals or whether the mannequins were afraid to be blond—targets of terrorists. Even they didn’t want to look American. They were out of fashion after the Twin Towers fell. To the point, that even though I had just dyed my hair blond because I was writing Hamlet and Hamlet is blond, I went back to my coiffeur immediately and told him—dye my hair black. It was a matter of life and death, why look like an American. When naturally I look like an Arab and walk like an Egyptian.”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis
In this passage from Giannina Braschi's work, the author reflects on the relationship between spirit and matter, particularly in the context of the aftermath of a tragic event like the September 11 attacks. Braschi discusses the war between banks and religion, symbolizing the conflict between materialism and spirituality in modern society. The author also explores themes of identity, immigration, and cultural belonging, as seen in the metaphor of dyeing her hair black to distance herself from American stereotypes and align more with her Arab heritage. This passage delves into complex issues of grief, displacement, and the struggle to find one's place in a rapidly changing world.
Modern Relevance
In this powerful excerpt from Giannina Braschi's work, the author reflects on the war between spirit and matter in today's society, particularly in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The juxtaposition of banks towering over cathedrals in New York City symbolizes the conflict between economic power and religious beliefs. This poignant observation highlights the impact of global events on individual identity and cultural perceptions.
Example of Usage
In her book "Prayers of the Dawn", Giannina Braschi explores the war between spirit and matter in modern society. In the following passage, she reflects on the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the cultural shifts that followed. Braschi delves into the symbolism of mourning seen in the empty storefronts of New York City and the changing perceptions of identity in a post-9/11 world.
Reflection Questions:
This excerpt from Giannina Braschi's work raises deep questions about the relationship between spirit and matter, the intersection of religion and economy, and the impact of societal events on personal identity. Reflect on the following questions:
How do you interpret the idea of the war between spirit and matter presented by Braschi? In what ways do you see this conflict playing out in society today?
What do you think Braschi means by describing banks as the temples of America and our economy as our religion? How does this perspective challenge traditional notions of spirituality and belief systems?
Reflect on the author's experience of grief and mourning in the aftermath of a national tragedy. How does the sense of alienation and estrangement influence their perception of identity and belonging?
Consider the symbolism behind the changes in the appearance of mannequins in the stores following the Twin Towers' fall. How does this reflect broader cultural shifts and perceptions of American identity?
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